Quantifying microcalcification activity in the thoracic aorta
Alexander J. Fletcher, Maria Lembo, Jacek Kwieciński, Maaz Syed, Jennifer Nash, Evangelos Tzolos, Rong Bing, Sebastien Cadet, Gillian Macnaught, Edwin J.R. van Beek, Alastair J. Moss, Mhairi Doris, Niki L. Walker, Damini Dey, Philip D Adamson, David E. Newby, Piotr J. Slomka, Marc R. Dweck
Abstract
BACKGROUND: F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF) uptake in the thoracic aorta. METHODS: F-NaF quantification method was compared to validated cardiovascular risk scores. RESULTS: Aortic microcalcification activity demonstrated excellent intra-observer (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.98) and inter-observer (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.97) repeatability with very good scan-rescan reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.86) which were similar to previously described TBRmean and TBRmax methods. AMA analysis was much quicker to perform than standard TBR assessment (3.4min versus 15.1min, P<0.0001). AMA was correlated with Framingham stroke risk scores and Framingham risk score for hard cononary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: F-NaF uptake across the ascending aorta and aortic arch that correlates with cardiovascular risk scores.